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PROPHECY OF UTTER RUIN.
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of March, Lord A. Hervey, Sir C. Burrell, M.P., Colonel Wyndham, M.P., G. Darby, Esq., M.P., Stafford O'Brien, Esq., M.P., Sir H. D. Goring, J. Sheppard, Esq., M.P., &c., &c. Such was the fervour against free trade pervading the meeting, that even the usual formal toasts were not allowed to pass without its displaying itself. Thus, in reply to the toast of "The army and navy," the Earl of Egmont said (and be said nothing else,) that, " he did not wish to obtrude himself, but when he read the speeches which were delivered at the Anti-Corn-Law League, he could not sit still, but felt it his duty to come forward and express the opinions which he entertained with respect to them. Could any man read those speeches and not believe that the whole foundation of their proceedings was revolution? For his part, he was happy to have that opportunity of identifying himself in the most public manner possible with the Agriculture Protection Society, which he was sure must succeed against the League. They had hoisted the flag of protection to agriculture, and they would bid defiance to the Anti-Corn-Law League.". The noble chairman deputed Mr. Stafford O'Brien to give the toast of the evening, "Prosperity to the Sussex Agricultural Society," in doing which the honourable gentleman thus described to the farmers what would be the effect of free trade:"They would, then, indeed, see England in a different condition from that in which she is at present; they would see whole districts thrown out of cultivation, families deserted, estates brought to the hammer, and though such a state of things might offer a good investment to the monied leaguer, yet he would find that the convulsion which had been produced would ill satisfy him; that he, too, would be a loser by the proceedings which would have already broken the hearts and the fortunes of the farmers that had cultivated the soil, and would be under other circumstances the best support of the landowner." This statement was received with loud cries of "hear, hear," and loud cheers.